ARS | Publication request: Comparison of screening methods for antibiotics in beef kidney juice and serum

Submitted to: Analytica Chimica Acta
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2008
Publication Date: February 2, 2009
Citation: Schneider, M.J., Mastovska, K., Lehotay, S.J., Lightfield, A.R., Kinsella, B., Shultz, C.2009. Comparison of screening methods for antibiotics in beef kidney juice and serum. Analytica Chimica Acta. 637:290-297.

Interpretive Summary: Use of antibiotics in livestock and the potential for antibiotic residues requires monitoring of the food supply to ensure that any residues present are below the acceptable level established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rapid screening tests have been developed which can increase the efficiency of a residue monitoring program. In this work, we compared three rapid screening tests and a liquid chromatgraphy-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method which is capable of detecting a wide range of antibiotic residues. Samples of beef kidney juice and serum were obtained from 235 carcasses which had been selected by inspectors in a processing plant for further testing. Samples from each carcass were analyzed simultaneously with the FAST, Premi® and KISTM rapid screening tests. Each sample was then also analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method. Use of both types of methods allowed for identification of any antibiotic residues present, determination of the levels present, and comparison of the relative sensitivity of the three rapid screening tests. This work provides valuable information to assist agencies involved in monitoring antibiotic residues select the method which might best meet their needs, as well as highlighting the usefulness of the LC-MS/MS method in a monitoring program.

Technical Abstract: Rapid screening tests can be used as part of an efficient program designed to monitor veterinary drug residues in cattle. In this work, three rapid tests designed to screen samples for the presence of antibiotic residues, the FAST, Premi® and KISTM tests, were compared using beef kidney juice and serum samples. In order to provide a realistic assessment, potentially incurred samples of beef kidney juice and serum were obtained from 235 carcasses which had been retained by inspectors in a processing plant for further testing. In addition, LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted on these samples to identify what antibiotics were present, if any, and their levels. The comparison of the three rapid screening test results with those from LC-MS/MS analysis allowed for a more complete comparison of the relative sensitivity of these analytical methods, as well as valuable information on false positive and negative response rates.